Abbreviations for APA
The APA style guide specifies that the first time you use a group author for an in-text citation, you should use square brackets to indicate an abbreviation. Then, in subsequent in-text citations, you use the abbreviation instead of the full name of the group author. See below for an example.
First in-text citation:
Children should learn about family finances in age-appropriate ways (American Psychological Association [APA], 2011).
Second in-text citation using the same source:
Children should learn about family finances in age-appropriate ways (APA, 2011).
To make these abbreviations in Microsoft Word:
For the first reference
1. In Word, go to the EndNote tab > Edit and Manage Citation(s)
2. The EndNote Edit & Manage Citations box will open. Under the Formatting drop-down menu, select Exclude Author
3. In the Prefix box, add the full group author name, square bracketed abbreviation, comma, and a space (e.g., American Psychological Association [APA], )
4. Click OK
For subsequent in-text citations
1. In Word, go to the EndNote tab > Edit and Manage Citation(s)
2. The EndNote Edit & Manage Citations box will open. Under the Formatting drop-down menu, select Exclude Author
3. In the Prefix box, add the abbreviated group author name, a comma, and a space (e.g., APA, )
4. Click OK
